Handle-securing wedge for tools



A. H. WHITE.

HANDLE SECURING WEDGE FOR TOOLS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE24. 1920.

1,388,539. t nted Aug. 23, 1921.

F; 15 .12. 71/ My? A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR H. WHITE, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

HANDLE-SECURING WEDGE FOR TOOLS.

Application filed June 24,

To all to how it may concern lie it known that I, Ania-ion ll. l Vnii'rn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handle Securing lVedges for Tools, of which the following is a specificationy reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a handle securwedge for tools and has for its object to provide a wedge that cannot be removed without manually mutilating the same.

Another object is to provide a wedge including lugs which are expanded into slots in the head of the tool to prevent lateral movement of the handle with respect to the tool.

Another object is to provide a wedge having its lower portion skewed so as to efliciently spread the handle within the head of the tool without danger of breaking the same.

i lnother object is to provide a wedge l1avm tapering spurs projecting from its sides and adapted to force the handle outwardly into engagement with the head of the tool.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the improved construction to be hereinafter more particularly de' scribed, fully claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichz- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a hammer head with the wedge applied.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 83 of Fig. 1.

Fig. at is a bottom plan and detail view of the wedge.

Fig. 5 is a sectional line 55 of Fig. 1. r

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of the wedge the skewing of the lower portion not being shown.

Referring to drawings 5 designates a hamnier head, but I do not desire to limit my self to the particular construction of hammer illustrated as my wedge can be used in connection with any form of hammer or like tool using a handle. The hammer head 5 is provided with an eye 6 which tapers from the upper surface 7 to the lower surface 8, and is intended to receive the handle 9, the upper portion of the handle being reduced to provide a shoulder 10 adapted to view taken on the Specification of Letters Patent.

.l"atented A n 23, 197211. 1920. Serial No. 391,335.

engage the lower surface 8 of the hammer head. The handle end is not tapered, so that handles of conventional design may be used. The upper surface T of the hammer head is provided with registering dovetail 11 which conununicate with eye (3, the base f the dovetail slots forming the widest portion thereof.

In order to secure the handle 9 within the head, a wedge 1:2 ynovlded. This wedge is made of malleable material having an up per surface 13 and lower surface M. The wedge is formed by tapering the sides 15 from the surface 13 to the surface 1%. Spurs 16 are formed on the sides 15 and extend in opposite directions, the base of each spur being disposed flush with the surface 1 -3 of the wedge. The ends 17 of the wedge below the surface 13 are provided with lugs 18, each lug including an extension 19 which projects above the upper surface 13. The ends 17 of the wedge, taper toward the lower surface 14. The lower portion of the wedge is skewed as at 20 the ends of the skewed portion each terminating in the plane of one of the sides.

After the handle 9 has been inserted in the tool head 5, the wedge 12 is forced into the portion of the handle within the head, the lug. 18 being positioned in the slots 11. This permits the skewed portion of the wedge to slightly skew the handle within the tool so as to eilicicntly spread the same. During this operation, the tapering spurs 16 serve to spread or force the remaining portion of the handle into engagement with the side wall of the tapering eye 6. hen the lugs 18 come in contact with the base of the dovetail slots 11, continued pressure will cause the lugs to be expanded into the dovetail slot so that the upper surface of the extensions 19 will lie flush with the upper surface 13 of the wedge. The expansion of the lugs within the dovetail slots renders it impossible for the handle to be moved in any direction within the tool head, and the head. of the tool cannot be disengaged from the handle until the wedge 12 is mutilated. In addition to this the spurs and the lugs resist any tendency of the handle to twist in the tool head it such movement were possible. After the wedge has been applied, its upper surface lies flush with the upper surface of the tool head.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that this invention provides a novel and simple form of wedge, which does not use screws or like means for securing it in the tool head. It can be used on all forms of hammers and like tools and will hold the tool head on the handle indefinitely as it is impossible for any force except manual mutilation to disengage the wedge from the tool head.

What isv claimed is: V

1. A device of the character described comprising a tool head having an eye adapted to receive a handle, the upper portion of the eye being larger than the lower portion,

the upper portion of said head having re istering dovetail slot-s communicating witi the eye and a malleable tapering wedge, lugs projecting from the ends of the wedge, the upper portion of each lug projection above the upper surface of the wedge, said wedge being forced into the handle within the eye, said lugs being expanded into the dovetail slots, the upper portion of each lug lying flush with the upper surface of the wedge and tool head.

2. A device of the character described comprising a tool head having an eye adapted to receive a handle, the upper portion of the eye being lar r than the lower portion, the upper portion of said head having registering dovetail slots communicating with the eye and a taperin wed lu projecting from the ends of tile we go, t e upper portion of each lug projecting above the upper surface of the wedge, the lower portion of said wedge being skewed, said wedge being forced into the handle within the eye, the lugs thereof being expanded into the dovetail slots, the skewed portion of the wedge spreading and skewing the handle within the eye.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ARTHUR H. WHITE. 

